Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Philadelphia?

Philadelphia, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,400 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Denver, CO's $1,750, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Denver than in Philadelphia?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.

Which has lower taxes, Denver or Philadelphia?

Denver is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax).

Denver vs Philadelphia Cost of Living 2026

Denver

Colorado

$1,750/mo est.

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,400/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,750 in Denver, CO versus $1,400 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Philadelphia, PA is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,681 in Denver, CO and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 34% higher in Denver, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Denver, CO

Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio

$1,497

$1,126

+25% in Denver, CO

1 Bedroom

$1,583

$1,189

+25% in Denver, CO

2 Bedroom

$1,958

$1,394

+29% in Denver, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,269

$1,406

+38% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$586,700

$232,400

+60% in Denver, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$91,681

$60,698

+34% in Denver, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$54,310

+13% in Denver, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

35.1 yr

+0.1 yr in Denver, CO

Homeownership

49.1%

52.3%

+3.2 pp in Philadelphia, PA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.6%

34.6%

+21.0 pp in Denver, CO

Avg Commute

25.4 min

32.0 min

+6.6 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

998.3

916.8

+8% in Denver, CO

Property Crime

4,781.9

4,614.3

+4% in Denver, CO

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

50.2°F

57.1°F

+6.9°F in Philadelphia, PA

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

48.5 in

+32.9 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.58/gal

$4.30/gal

+6% in Denver, CO

Area: Denver vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

$2.50

+9% in Denver, CO

Adult base one-way fare — RTD vs SEPTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.7

20.9

+25% in Philadelphia, PA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.64

$16.67

+43% in Philadelphia, PA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

$4.14

+5% in Denver, CO

Bread (lb)

$2.10

$1.92

+9% in Denver, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

$6.90

+5% in Denver, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

$2.02

+5% in Denver, CO

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

$0.68

+9% in Denver, CO

Average prices — West vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / PA)

2.9%

+3.1 pp in PA

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

3.07%

+1.3 pp in CO

Denver vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Philadelphia?: Philadelphia, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,400 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Denver, CO's $1,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Denver than in Philadelphia?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Denver or Philadelphia?: Denver is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).